ISU Dental Sciences Opens Resident Training Program in Treasure Valley; Will Provide Care to Un- And Under-insured

Boise - The Idaho State University dental sciences department has expanded Idaho's only dental resident training program to the Treasure Valley.

The expansion will increase educational opportunities for newly graduated dentists and improve access to dental care for underserved and disadvantaged populations.

The state dental residency program will now train eight residents per year, four on ISU's Pocatello campus, and four at the ISU Dental Clinic, located at 2033 E. Summersweet Dr., Boise. The two sites will be electronically linked so lectures and seminars can originate from either facility.

Dr. Pam Powell, the first female dentist in the state of Idaho, has been hired as site director.

"This training provides an accredited one-year program in advanced general dentistry designed to increase participants' skills and give them practice in an actual dental office," said Powell. "A patient base was already in place -- we had more than 70 patients ready to receive services when we opened."

Dr. Brian Crawford, chair of the department of dental sciences and the Idaho Dental Education Program, will direct the $460,000 grant received from the Department of Health and Human Services, Health Resources and Services Administration. The grant recommends added funding in the next two years, $369,197 and $200,066, $1.03 million total.

After three years, the program is designed to be sustained through patient receipts, some state education revenues, and affiliation agreements with state and federal programs, hospitals, and care agencies.

For more information call 331-0128.